Introduction of China free trade agreement enabling legislation

Wed 16 September 2015

The introduction of the enabling legislation for the China Australia Free Trade Agreement today is an important step forward in ensuring the agreement enters into force before the end of 2015.

The China Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) will further strengthen a minerals and energy trade already worth more than $80 billion annually.  The agreement will eliminate Chinese tariffs – which currently range between 1.5 per cent and 10 per cent – on all minerals and energy exports within two years.  When applied at current rates, these tariffs impose a burden of about $600 million on the bilateral minerals and energy trade each year.